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Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month

by
Staff Writer
/ Winnipeg Jets

NEW YORK / TORONTO (October 11, 2011) – Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month will once again share the spotlight in October with the start of the 2011-12 NHL season. For this season’s month-long initiative, the National Hockey League® (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) have again partnered with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Prostate Cancer Canada, ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to raise funds and awareness for this important cause. The NHL® and the NHLPA will distribute more than $200,000 in grants to these four organizations as well as local cancer charities in all 30 NHL markets. For the 14th straight year, the NHL and the NHLPA will mobilize the entire hockey community in hopes of exceeding the $1.1 million raised and donated as part of last year’s efforts.

Hockey Fights Cancer™ will donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to fund an LLS portfolio of pediatric cancer research grants. Hockey Fights Cancer’s grant to Prostate Cancer Canada will be used to fund research into the prevention, detection and treatment of prostate cancer, leading one step closer to a cure. ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer will use its donation to provide free mobile testing in select markets and fund several research grants to medical centers and hospitals. Hockey Fights Cancer’s contribution to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will be used to co-sponsor innovative research programs, helping the organization to meet its goal to double the survival rate for pancreatic cancer by 2020. In addition, Hockey Fights Cancer will distribute $5,000 to each NHL club to support local cancer organizations in their respective markets.

Fans can also donate to the cause via mobile phone. U.S. residents can text HFC to 90999 to make a $5 U.S. donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Canadian residents can text HFC to 45678 to make a $5 CDN donation to the Canadian chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A one-time charge of $5 U.S. Or CDN will be added to the donor’s mobile phone bill. Message and data rates may apply. For full terms visit www.mGive.org/T or mobilegiving.ca.

The entire hockey community, including all 30 NHL clubs, players, management and fans, will once again join the fight with a busy month of events and activities. Each NHL club will designate one home game as its Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night. Events will include on-ice presentations, 50/50 raffles, promotional giveaways, contests and discount ticket offers. Arena suites and tickets will be donated to children’s hospitals and cancer-affiliated programs, and young patients will be involved with in-game opportunities - including rides on the ice resurfacer, puck-drops and player meet-and-greets. There also will be on-line, live and silent auctions of signed items including helmets, sticks, jerseys and other team merchandise. Several clubs will continue to promote awareness by participating in local hospital visits and fundraising runs and walks.

Members of the Congressional Hockey Caucus and Canadian Ambassador to the United States Gary Doer will join life-long hockey player Senator John Kerry (D-MA) in support of Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month by designating Thursday, October 13, as Hockey Fights Cancer Day on the Hill. The inaugural awareness day on Capitol Hill will involve Members of Congress and other political dignitaries pledging public support for the hockey community’s effort to fight cancer.

Lavender, which represents awareness for all cancers, returns as the designated color for this year’s initiative and will be worn by the hockey community throughout October. And back by popular demand is the commemorative Hockey Fights Cancer tie. The lavender tie is custom woven, 100% silk with a hockey player logo throughout. The tie, manufactured by Vineyard Vines, also features a custom woven Hockey Fights Cancer label. NHL coaches, broadcasters and team personnel will wear the commemorative tie during all regular-season games in October and players will wear a Hockey Fights Cancer decal on their helmets.

In addition to the commemorative tie, fans of all ages will have a wide assortment of one-of-a-kind apparel and products to purchase to show their support of Hockey Fights Cancer, including ladies' track jackets and men’s caps by Reebok; ladies' caps by New Era and men’s, ladies' and kids'tees by Old Time Sports. Rounding out this year’s catalog is REFLECTIONS 2011- The NHL Hockey Year in Photographs. The fifth in an annual visual celebration series, the book chronicles the most memorable moments and candid, behind-the-scenes images highlighting the NHL's 2010-11 season. The commemorative tie, jacket, caps, t-shirts and book will be available at shop.nhl.com, select team stores and the NHL Powered by Reebok store in New York City.

“With the support of our teams, players, charitable partners and fans, we are honored to continue hockey's most important fight during Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month,” said Kenneth Martin, Jr., NHL Vice President of Community Affairs. "Throughout October and the entire season, the hockey family will continue its commitment to raising funds to support cancer awareness and research and will remain devoted to helping find a cure for cancer.”

“The members of the NHLPA are proud of the accomplishments and efforts of Hockey Fights Cancer. However, the fight isn’t over until we have beaten this terrible disease that has impacted the hockey community and beyond,” said Devin Smith, NHLPA Director, Marketing & Community Relations. “Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month is about spreading awareness and raising money and the players appreciate the fans joining this initiative."